Can Viruses Be Cured?

In my opinion, the answer is “Yes.”A virus can be stopped. I believe certain viral diseases, such as canine distemper, can be cured. At Plano Animal Clinic (PAC), we have become very good at treating viruses. Over the past ten years, we have had many cases of canine distemper virus (CDV) fully recover, as well as a lesser number of other canine and feline viral diseases.

This is noteworthy, since the vast majority of puppies with clinical distemper die, with or without treatment. We have been able to treat a large number of distemper patients because area rescue groups have brought them to us from all over the Dallas / Fort Worth metroplex. We use a method of treatment we call “PAC (Plano Animal Clinic) antiviral therapy.” Eighty percent (80%) of the distemper puppies we treat with this method recover. There are thousands of veterinary clinics in the metroplex, but we seem to be unique in our ability to successfully treat a high percentage of these cases. How we do it, though, is not really that mysterious, as I go on to explain.

Our treatment principles are similar for treating all the viral diseases we encounter, though we make modifications to our protocol where needed. In some sense, a virus is a virus, regardless of which virus it is or which species it is infecting. In our protocol, we use combinations of enzymes, antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, flavonoids, and other nutrients to strengthen the patient's immune system in its struggle with the invading virus. However, if this were all we did, the majority of patients would still probably die when faced with the more lethal viruses. It would be necessary to stop the virus from replicating and protect the uninfected cells from becoming infected. Then the enzymes and antioxidants, etc. could aid the body in overcoming any residual infection.

Amazingly, there is a product out there that does just that. The cornerstone of our treatment--and the one ingredient of our protocol that is probably vital for success--is low-dose, human, recombinant interferon.

This is not a new product. It has been around since the mid 1980's. The “amazing” part, in my mind, is not so much that it exists but that its use in a low-dose format has been all but forgotten by conventional veterinary medicine. A detailed article about its use in treating feline leukemia virus (FeLV) cases first appeared in the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Journal (1991). Over 17 years ago (as of August 2009), the article reported significant improvement in the health of these cats when treated with low-dose interferon. In looking back at that article years later, it seemed only reasonable to use a similar dosing protocol on the terminally ill distemper puppies from the animal shelters that we would occasionally see. Soon we had a couple of these puppies survive. As we added ingredients to boost the immune system, more puppies began surviving, with fewer lingering effects from the virus. Over time, these ingredients morphed into the protocol we use today, and only rarely does a surviving puppy have any persistent impairment from the virus.

While the other steps of the protocol certainly contribute to its success, the foundational pillar is interferon. In its natural form, it is an integral part of the body's innate immune system. It acts as a tiny shield for both humans and animals against both nonlethal and lethal viral diseases.

Conventional medical protocol generally treats acute and subacute viral disease with supportive care only, since it has been assumed that effective antiviral therapy was unavailable. Supportive care may include hospitalization, intravenous fluid therapy, injectable antibiotics and antispasmodics, plasma transfusions, etc. This care buys time for the patient while its body battles the virus. However, since these treatments have no effect on the virus itself, supportive care must be maintained until the body can overcome the virus on its own.

My experience tells me that more can be done to treat viral disease. As stated previously, interferon has the ability to stop a virus from replicating and to shield the uninfected cells. When this is combined with certain immune stimulating nutrients and supportive care, as needed, the patient benefits greatly. The interferon we use is a synthetic product first manufactured in 1986. It is based, though, on one of the marvelous substances God designed into the bodies of humans and animals to fight disease. While each body produces its own interferon naturally, the immune system can sometimes be overwhelmed by a potentially lethal virus. Low-dose, synthesized, recombinant interferon administered therapeutically can tip the scales in the patient's favor. Importantly, it does not appear to be species specific, or even virus specific, as it can be used to treat a smorgasbord of viral diseases in both dogs and cats. Interferon has been a powerful tool in our hands for treating canine distemper, parvovirus, kennel cough, feline respiratory complex, feline leukemia, etc., and the implications may be far reaching.

It is my clinical understanding, based on experience, that at least one presumed incurable viral disease (canine distemper) can be effectively treated and often cured. We’ve done this many times -- approximately 120 survivors as of August 2009. (We define a “distemper patient” as one showing the typical clinical symptoms and disease progression of canine distemper. We define a “cured distemper patient” as one who is no longer ill.) It is my conjecture that similar techniques as we have used on both dogs and cats in treating at least five different viral diseases would also be effective on even more species with species specific viral diseases. To the best of my knowledge, our treatment protocol is neither species specific nor virus specific. It may cause one to consider the possibilities. . .

Please read the fine print . . .

The fine print:The opinions expressed are my own. They do not necessarily reflect the general opinion of the veterinary or human medical communities. The results have not been peer reviewed nor have there been any double-blind, placebo controlled studies on the effectiveness of PAC antiviral therapy in any research institution. Instead, my conclusions are drawn from my own personal experience in treating many dogs and cats suffering with viral diseases. The recovery of the patient is always our goal but is not a predicted result. It is a hoped-for result, just as it is for countless other health care professionals in the human and veterinary medical fields. There is no implied or expressed guarantee of positive results with any of our treatment protocols, conventional or alternative.